"We really improved dramatically in just a couple years," said coach Beth Frackleton, who has been with the team since its inception in 2009.

Liberty finished the fall season second in the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Triathlon Conference in the men's division while the women finished third.

Leading the way into nationals for the men is Joseph Anderson. The freshman from Washington, D.C., finished second in the Lake Lure Triathlon showcase event in the "draft legal" race last month. Last fall, he also qualified, along with teammate Parker Spencer, to represent the United States at the World Age Group Triathlon Championships in Auckland, New Zealand.

Senior Scott Fritz won the collegiate race at the Lake Lure event.

Blakely Harris leads the way for the women. A senior, Harris came in fifth in the women's race at Lake Lure.

There will be more than 1,500 athletes competing in the two races this weekend as they contest the "Olympic distance" for triathlon: 1.5K (about 1 mile) swim, 40K (about 25 mile) bike and 10K (about 6.2 mile) run. The women's race starts at 7:30 a.m. with the gun going for the men's race at 10:30.